Hydrangea plant named &#39;LC NO14&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘LC NO14’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniform plant habit; freely branching habit with strong lateral branches; early and freely flowering habit with plants remaining in flower for a long period time; hardy inflorescences with large white-colored sterile flowers; and good garden performance.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Hydrangea Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Alex Frederick Schoemaker

Provisional application Ser. No.: 62/973,658

Filed: Oct. 17, 2019

Inventor/Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LC NO14’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT:

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Inventor/Assignee, Mr. Alex Frederick Schoemaker of Boskoop, The Netherlands on Oct. 19, 2018, application number 2018/2642. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea paniculata, commercially referred to as a Hardy or Panicled Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘LC NO14’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Hydrangea plants with uniform plant habit and attractive inflorescences.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a self-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2013 in Boskoop, The Netherlands, of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,874. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated self-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in July, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since August, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘LC NO14’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘LC NO14’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniform plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit with strong lateral branches.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit with plants remaining in         flower for a long period time.     -   4. Hardy inflorescences with large white-colored sterile         flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the parent, ‘Limelight’. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Limelight’ in sterile flower coloration as sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are white becoming purplish pink in color with development whereas sterile flowers of plants of ‘Limelight’ are light green in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanille Fraise’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Vanille Fraise’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have stronger and sturdier         lateral branches than plants of ‘Vanille Fraise’.     -   2. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea become more         intense purplish pink in color with development than sterile         flowers of plants of ‘Vanille Fraise’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘LC NO14’ grown in a container.

The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of typical inflorescences (top of sheet) and a typical leaf (bottom of sheet) of ‘LC NO14’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the late summer in 21-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 12° C. to 22° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were pinched one time and were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. As a Hardy or Panicled Hydrangea, plants of the new Hydrangea are typically not treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea paniculata ‘LC NO14’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,874.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata. disclosed in             U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,874. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 120 days             at temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent             on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to somewhat outwardly             spreading and uniform plant habit; overall plant shape,             upright to narrowly inverted triangular; strong and sturdy             stems; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate to high             growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 80.3 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 56 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—About seven lateral branches develop per             plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development.         -   Length.—About 56.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 7 cm.         -   Texture.—When developing, sparsely pubescent; fully             developed, woody.         -   Aspect.—Upright to about 27.50° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Color.—When developing: Upper surface, close to between 177D             and 195A; lower surface, close to 145C. Developed: Close to             178A; proximally, close to 200D; when woody, close to 199A             to 199B.         -   Lenticels.—Density: Sparse; none observed on developing             stems. Size, developed stems: About 1.5 mm by 0.75 mm.             Color, developed stems: Close to 165C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls of three, simple.         -   Length.—About 8.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Serrate; coarsely undulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely pubescent;             slightly rough.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A; venation,             close to 146C. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close             to between 138B and 147C; venation, close to 193A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Sparsely pubescent;             matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 173D; towards the             edges, close to 173A. Color, lower surface: Close to 199C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and smaller             inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on terminal panicles;             panicles dense and broadly conical in shape; sterile flowers             face upright to outwardly and slightly drooping depending on             their position in the inflorescence; fertile flowers face             mostly upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering begins in the midsummer             and is continuous until late summer in Northern Europe.         -   Flower longevity.—Sterile flowers last about six weeks on             the plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last             about five days on the plant, fertile flowers not             persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 425             sterile flowers and about 200 fertile flowers per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 18 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 14.3 cm.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About             1.5 cm. Shape: Broadly cup-shaped. Color: Close to 150D.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 3.5 mm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Color: Close to 145C; immature             calyx, close to 145B.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 8 mm.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 9 mm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 9 mm.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four or             occasionally five arranged in a single whorl. Length: About             3 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex:             Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D.             Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D;             color does not change with development.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five             arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About             2 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D to lighter than             NN155D; color does not change with development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D; color does             not change with development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically             four or occasionally five arranged in a single whorl.             Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Broadly             obovate; slightly concave. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to NN155B. When opening, lower surface:             Close to NN155C. Fully opened, upper surface: Slightly             lighter than 150D; with subsequent development, color             becoming closer to between 61D and 62B. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 157C; with subsequent development, color             becoming closer to 65D and towards the margins and apex,             close to 62C.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 1.25 mm.             Shape: Broadly deltoid. Apex: Broadly acuminate. Base:             Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to between 145D and             150D; color does not change with development.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45°             from branch axis. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 157D.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter:             About 0.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 20°             from vertical. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte.             Color: Close to 150D.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About eight. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament             color: Close to 155C. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther             shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155D. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 161D. Pistils: To             date, pistil development has not been observed on sterile             flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About ten. Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament             color: Close to NN155D. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther             shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 160D. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 156A. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: Typically three or occasionally two.             Pistil length: About 1.5 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped.             Stigma color: Close to 157D. Style length: About 0.75 mm.             Style color: Close to between 150D and 157D. Ovary color:             Close to between 150D and 157C.         -   Seeds.—To date, seed production has not been observed on             plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, under commercial production     conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be     resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed     have good garden performance and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 5 through 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘LC NO14’ as illustrated and described. 